Coin delivery apparatus



Feb. 21, 1939. H. KOZEL ET AL COIN DELIVERY APPARATUS Filed July 12,1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 95 192 lll l 6 a 6 w m 1 0 j a 2 M a w w @1 1 Feb.21, 1939. H. KOZEL ET AL 2,147,954

COIN DELIVERY APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1935 I Sheets-Sheet 2 1J8fivezazargv J26 flair; i ozel Patented Feb. 21, 1939 PATENT OFFICE COINDELIVERY APPARATUS Harry Kozel, Claude Hutchinson,

and George Baca, Chicago, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, toJames E. Johnson,

Chicago, 111.

Application July 12, 1935, Serial No. 30,982

13 Claims.

Our invention relates generally to coin delivery apparatus, and moreparticularly to an improved coin ejecting mechanism whereby a selectednumber of coins may be delivered upon operation of the apparatus.

A further object is to provide an improved electrically controlled coindelivery apparatus wherein by closing a selected one of a plurality ofcircuits, a predetermined number of coins may be ejected.

A further object is to provide an improved coin delivery apparatus whichmay be remotely controlled.

A further object is to provide an improved coin delivery apparatus whichis electrically controlled and which may be utilized as a unit in anykind of a machine which is to be used for the delivery of coins, tokens,or similar articles.

Other objects will appear from the following description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine incorporating our invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, portions of the casing being broken awayto reveal the working parts of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of the solenoid control switch taken onthe line of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of contactor;

Fig. 9is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of contactrestoring mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line lI-ll of Fig.2; and

Fig. 12 is a wiring diagram of the machine.

Fig. 1 shows generally the construction and arrangement of oneembodiment of our invention, in this instance comprising a casing l4having a coin stacking tube l6 projecting upwardly therefrom, a coindelivery tray l8 projecting from the rear wall thereof, and a pluralityof depressible keys 2!] for controlling the operation of the machine.Briefiy, by depressing any one of the keys a number of coins, dependingupon the particular key depressed, will be ejected from the machine andcollect in the tray i 8.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the coin tube I6 is held in a casting 22which is secured to the base plate 24 of the machine by screws 26. A 5coin slide 28 is mounted for rectilinear sliding movement on the baseplate 24, the slide being guided by bosses 36 formed on the base plate24 and by washers 32 which are secured to the bosses nearest the frontof the machine by 10 screws 34. The coin slide 28 has an opening 36formed therein which is of slightly larger diameter than that of thecoins to be delivered. The coin slide is normally in the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 5, with its opening 36 15 beneath an opening38 formed in the casting 22, in which position one of the coins 40 willlie in the opening 36 in position to be withdrawn from the stack anddropped into a delivery chute 42 from which it slides into the deliveryreceptacle 20 I8. The edge of the coin slide adjacent the rearward edgeof the opening 36 is preferably chamfered as indicated at 44 so that ifthe coins are worn slightly, the chamfered surface 44 of the coin slidewill cam the second coin of the 26 stack upwardly and thus but a singlecoin will be ejected.

The coin slide 28 is operated by means of a solenoid comprising a coil46 and a plunger 48. The plunger has an eye 50 secured to the outer 80end thereof, the eye fitting over a stud 52 which is threaded in thecoin slide 26 and locked thereto by a jamb nut 54. The coin slide isnormally held in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 by arelatively strong tension coil spring 56, one 35 end of which is securedto the pin 52 and the other end of which is anchored in a boss 56 whichforms part of the casting 22.

Rigidly secured'to the slide 28 is a U-shaped bracket 60 having upwardlyextending arms 62 40 and 64 for actuation of a solenoid control switch65. This switch comprises an arm 66 pivoted to a switch supporting plate68 by means of a shouldered bolt 10, the arm 66 having a sidewardlyextending pin 12 secured thereto. The arm also 46 has a depending finger14 projecting from the lower end thereof, this finger being adapted tofit freely in a slot 16 formed in an actuating member 18 which ispivoted on a stud carried by an insulating housing 82. Also freelypivoted upon 40 the stud 80 is a switch contact member 64 which, in theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 7, is in closed position, the endof the contact member being in engagement with the head of a stationarycontact pin or rivet 66. A grasshopper spring 86 I! has one end securedto the contact member 84 and its other end secured in the actuatingmember I8.

The spring 88 constitutes a snap-over mechanism so that when theactuator '76 is swung clockwise to its extreme position, the contactmember 64 will be snapped counterclockwise, and similarly when thecontact member I8 is swung counterclockwise to the extreme position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 'I, the contact member 84 will be snappedclockwise just prior to the completion of the movement of the actuatingmember I8.

Thus, upon movement of the coin slide 28 to the right, (Figs. 4 and 5)the arm 62 will strike the pin I2 and through the finger I4 swing theactuator I8 clockwise, whereupon the contact member will swingcounterclockwise, opening the circuit, whereas upon the return movementof the coin slide (to the left Figs. 4 and 5) the arm 64 will strike thepin 72 and, as previously described,

swing the contact member 84 clockwise to close the circuit. The switchmechanism is connected shaft I06 by means of a cotter pin I20,

spring H8 normally tends to rotate the ratchet in circuit with thesolenoid coil 46, as will be more fully described hereinafter withreference to the circuit diagram of Fig. 12.

The coin slide carries a pawl 90 pivoted on a shouldered screw 92 andheld in the position shown in Fig. 4 by a tension coil spring 94, oneend of which is secured to a pin 96 on the pawl, and the other end ofwhich is secured to a pin 98 riveted in the slide .28. The spring 94normally holds the pawl in contact with the pin 98. When the slide 28 ismoved to its rightmost position, upon energization of the solenoid 46,the tooth I 08 of the pawl 90 will engage one of of a ratchet wheel I04.7

The ratchet wheel I06 is secured to a shaft I06 by means of a collar I08pressed over the reduced end portion IIO of the shaft, the end portion II0 being journaled in the base plate 24 at its lower end and beingsupported by a contact carrying plate I I2 at its upper end.

The shaft I06 is secured in place by a screw H4 threaded in the reduceddiameter end portion H6 of the shaft I06. A torsion spring H8 is woundabout the shaft I06; having one end suitably anchored in the insulatingcontact carrying plate H2 and its other end secured to the The wheel I04clockwise, such movement being arrested by the engagement of a pin I22projecting upwardly from the ratchet wheel I04 with a lug I24 formed onthe casting 22. The contact carrying plate H2 is carried by a pair ofposts I26 formed integrally with the base plate 24, the plate beingsecured to said posts by screws I28.

A dog I30 is mounted for free pivotal movement upon a shouldered screwI32 which is threaded in the base plate 24, the dog having a tooth I 34normally held in engagement with the ratchet wheel I04 by a tensionspring I36 anchored at I38 to the base plate 24. A releasing link I40 isguided for sliding movement on a shouldered screw I42 threaded into alug I44 formed integrally with the base 24. It will be seen thatleftward movement of the link I40 (Fig. 4) will cause itsend to engagethe rearwardly projecting portion of the dog I30 and swing the latterclockwise to remove the tooth I 34 of the dog from engagement with theteeth I02, of the ratchet wheel. One of the teeth of the ratchet wheelis missing as indicated at I45, so that the electromagnet will beinefiective to advance the ratchet wheel further when blank the teethI02 I number of coins.

portion I45 arrives at the tooth I84 of the dog The contact carryingmember II2 has a plurality of contact points I 46 riveted thereto in acircumferential row. A contact member I48 is non-rotatably secured tothe shaft I06 by the screw I I4 and normally lies in the position shownin Fig. 2. The contact member I48 has a plurality of spring-fingers. I50which are adapted to make contact with the contact points I46. Thecontact member is suitably grounded to the frame of the machine by aflexible wire I52 the ends of which are soldered to washers I54 and I56which are secured to the contact member and frame by screws I I4 and I28respectively.

Suitably mounted in the front part of the casing I4 are a plurality ofkey stems I58 each having a key button 20 secured at the upper endthereof. Each of the keys is normally held in its uppermost position bya compression coil spring I60 positioned between the key button and thetop of the casing I4. Each of the key stems has a camming lug I62projecting from the edge thereof, the lug I62 being adapted to engagethe edge of a slot I64 formed in a locking plate I66. The locking plateis guided for longitudinal sliding movement bya pair of shoulderedscrews I66 and H0 (Figs. 2 and 11) which project through elongated slotsIII and I72 respectively formed in the locking plate I66. The lockingplate is normally held in its leftmost position by a tension coil springII I, one end of which is secured to the pin I68 and the other end ofwhich is secured to a pin I16 riveted to the locking plate I66. Beneatheach of the key stems I58 is located a pair of contacts I78 which aresuitably insulated from one another and adapted to be closed by thedepression of the associated key.

A bell crank I80 is pivoted to the base plate 24 by a shouldered screw I82, the shorter arm I84 of the bell crank being pivotally secured to thelocking plate I66 at I86. The longer arm I88 of the bell crank ispivotally connected to the link I40, which, as previously described, isadapted to move the dog I 30 to release the ratchet wheel I04. A keybutton I90 is provided for restoring the mechanism to normal positionwhen it is desired to do so without delivering any coins or when it isdesired to repeatedly deliver the same The ,key stem for this key isidentica' with'the key stem for the key buttons 20 except that it isslightly longer so as to bring the key I90 above the plane of theremaining keys. In the embodiment shown the key stem I90 will not beprovided with contacts I18. Depression of the key I90 will merely movethe locking slide and through the bell crank lever I80 and link I40releasethe dog I30 from its engagement with the ratchet wheel I 04.

The operation of the apparatus will nowbe described in connection with adescription of the wiring diagram of Fig. 12. Upon depression of any oneof the keys 20 the contacts I16 associated with that key will close acircuit commencing at one terminal of a battery I92 through a bus wireI94, contacts I'I8 through a conductor I96 associated with the closedcontacts I18, to one of the contact points I 46 carried by the plate II2. Since in normal position the conductor I48 will be in the positionshown in Fig. 2, the latter will initially be in contact with all of thecontact points I46 and current will flow through the wire I52 throughsolenoid controlling switch contacts 84, B6 to the coil 46 of thesolenoid.

When the latter is energized it will pull the coin slide 28 (to theleft, Figs. 2, 8, and 12, or to the right Figs. 4 and 5) and eject acoin. As the plunger 48 reaches its innermost position the arm 62 willengage the pin -I2 causing the switch contacts 84, 86 to separate, andopening the circuit to the solenoid. As soon, however, as this contactis open, the spring 66 will be efl'ective to return the coin slide tonormal position and during this return stroke the pawltooth I of thepawl90 will engage one of the ratchet teeth I02 and rotate the ratchetwheel and hence the contact member I48 through an angle represented bythe pitch of the teeth on the ratchet wheel.

The dog I30 will maintain the ratchet wheel in the position to which itis rotated by the pawl 80. If the key button 1 is the key which has beendepressed, the machine will thereupon stop iunctioning, since theratchet wheel and contact member I48 will have rotated sumciently tomove the contactor from the contact point I46 connected to the 1 key.If, however, the "2 key is the key which has been depressed, the wireI52 will still be alive after the first cycle of operation justdescribed, and upon the end of the return movement of the coin slide 28the arm 64 will engage the pin I2 and close the switch contacts 84, 86,thereby re-energizing the electromagnet 46 and causing a repetition ofthe reciprocating cycle of the coin slot 28 with resultant ejection ofan .additional coin.

Similarly, when the keys numbered 3, "4, 5, '6, 7, and 15 are energized,the coin slide will be reciprocated until the contactor I48 has beenrotated beyond the last contact member I46 which is connected to thebattery I92. In other words, as soon as the contactor I48 is no longerin contact with a live contact point I46, the machine will ceaseoperation.

Upon the initial portion of the downward movement of each of the keystems I58, the camshaped lug I62 thereof will move the locking plate I66to the right (Fig. 11) and thereby swing the bell crank lever I80counterclockwise and thus release the dog I30 from engagement with theratchet wheel. When thus released the ratchet wheel together with thecontact member will rapidly snap back to their normal positions underthe influence of the torsion spring II8 so that by the time the contactsI18 have been closed and the solenoid plunger pulled to its innermostposition, the ratchet wheel will have been restored to its normalposition in condition for operation upon the return stroke of theplunger and coin slide.

In some instances it may be desirable to locate e keyboard at a distancefrom the coin delivery mechanism and when the apparatus is desired to beused in this manner we provide an electromagnet for operating the dogI30 as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 10, wherein the key lookingplate I66 is provided with an insulated pin I98. As the locking plateI66 is moved to the right (Fig. 11) upon the depression of one of thekeys, the pin I98 will close a pair of contacts 200 and thus complete acircuit through wires 202 from a battery to an electromagnet 204. Thearmature of the electromagnet is adapted, when the latter is energized,to engage the dog I30 and move it to disengaging position. The armatureof the electromagnet 204 is preferably connected with a dash pot 206which will delay the return of the dog I30 to ratchet wheel engagingposition when the electromagnet is de-energized. This delay will be inthe order of a fraction of a second, and is provided merely to giveassurlimited to ance that the ratchet wheel I04 will have time to returnto normal position without danger of interference by the dog I30.

In Figs. 8 and 9 we have illustrated a modified form of contactor inwhich a disc 208 of insu-' lating material is rigidly secured to ratchetwheel shaft I06 and is recessed to receive a segmental contact member2I0 which has a depending flange 2I2. An annular contactcarrying member2I4 is secured to upright posts I26 and has a plurality of radiallydrilled holes to receive conducting iivets 2I6, the latter each carryinga brush 2I8. vThe brushes 2I8 are adapted to contact with the downwardlyprojecting flange 2| 2 of the segmental contact member 2I0. The contactmember 2I0 is grounded by a bearing bracket 220 which is secured to theposts I26 by screws I 28. A disc-shaped spring washer 222 is interposedbetween the bearing bracket 220 and the contact member 2I0 to assure agood electrical contact between these two parts.

The contact mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9 will be effective to makeand break the circuits in a manner similar to that in which the contactmember I48 operates, and detailed description of this operation istherefore believed to be unnecessary.

While we have shown and described preferred embodiments of ourinvention, many modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention and we do not wish to be the precise details setforth, but desire to avail ourselves of all changes within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. A coin delivery mechanism comprising a coin magazine, a slidereciprocable beneath said magazine and engageable with one only of thecoins therein to remove it from the magazine, a solenoid for moving saidslide in one direction, a spring for moving said slide in the oppositedirection, a source of electrical energy for energizing said solenoid, aslide for controlling the connection of said solenoid with said source,a contact-making member connected in series with said switch, aplurality of contact points engageable by said contact member, means formoving said contacting member step by step so as successively to breakcontact with said contact points, and means for connecting a selectedone of said contact points with said source.

2. A coin delivery mechanism comprising a coin magazine, a slidereciprocable beneath said magazine and engageable with one only of thecoins therein to remove it from the magazine, a solenoid for moving saidslide in one direction, a spring for moving said slide in the oppositedirection, a source of electrical energy for energizing said solenoid; aswitch actuated by said slide for controlling the connection of saidsolenoid with said source, a contactor connected in series with saidswitch, a plurality of contact points engageable by said contact member,means including said solenoid and a pawl and ratchet mechanism formoving said contacting member step by step so as successively to breakcontact with said contact points, and parallel circuits for connecting aselected one of said contact points with said source.

3. In a coin delivery apparatus, the combination with coin ejectingmechanism, a solenoid for actuating said mechanism, and means forenergizing said solenoid for a predetermined number switch actuated bysaid of cycles of operation, said means comprising a plurality ofnormally open, parallel circuits connected to said solenoid, switchmeans in each said circuit for closing the same at a normal open portionthereof, and means operated by said solenoid to successively opennormally closed portions of said circuits when said circuit is closed.

4. In a coin delivery apparatus, the combination with coin ejectingmechanism, a solenoid for actuating said mechanism, and means forenergizing said solenoid for a predetermined number of cycles ofoperation, said means comprising a plurality of alternately effectiveparallel circuits for supplying electrical energy to said solenoid, acommutator normally connecting said circuits in parallel, and meansoperated by said solenoid to move said commutator successively todisconnect said solenoid from said circuits.

5. In a coin delivery mechanism, the combination of a coin magazine, aslide having a coin receiving aperture therein and reciprocable beneathsaid magazine, a coin receiving chute beneath said slide and laterallyspaced from said magazine, an electromagnetic motor for reciprocatingsaid slide to bring the aperture therein alternately beneath saidmagazine and above said chute, a plurality of electrical circuits, acontactor normally connecting said circuits in parallel to supplycurrent to said motor, a pawl and ratchet mechanism, means actuated bysaid motor for operating said pawl and ratchet mechanism to move saidcontactor successively to open said parallel circuits, a normally openswitch in each of said parallel circuits, a plurality of depressiblekeys for operating said switches, means for latching said keys indepressed position, and means operable upon depression of any one ofsaid keys to move said latching means to key releasing position.

6. In a coin delivery mechanism, the combination of a coin magazine, andmeans for successively ejecting coins from said magazine, said meanscomprising a coin slide, a solenoid having a plunger connected to saidcoin slide,.a source of electrical energy, in electrical circuit forsupplying electrical energy to said. solenoid, a normally closedmulti-contact switch in said circuit, said switch having a plurality ofefiectively open positions toward which it is actuatable with a step bystep movement, a quick snap-over switch in said circuit, means connectedto the plunger of said solenoid for actuating said snap-over switch toopen said circuit when the solenoid is energized and thereafter to closesaid switch, means actuated by said solenoid for actuating saidmulti-contact switch towards its open position each time said snap-overswitch is opened, and selectively operable switch means in said circuitoperable independently of said solenoid for selecting the open positionat which said multi-contact switch will be effective whereby topredetermine the number of operating cycles of said solenoid.

7. In a coin delivery mechanism, the combination of a coin magazine, andmeans for successively ejecting coins from said magazine, said meanscomprisinga coin ejecting slide, a solenoid having a plunger connectedto said coil slide, a source of electrical energy, an electrical circuitfor supplying electrical energy to said solenoid, a quick snap-overswitch in said circuit, means connected to the plunger of said solenoidfor actuating said switch, a second switch in said circuit operableindependently of said solenoid, a third switch in said circuit, andmeans for automatically opening said third switch after a. predeterminednumber of ejecting operations of said coin ejecting slide.

8. In a coin delivery mechanism, the combination of a coin magazine, aslide having a coin receiving aperture therein and reciprocable beneathsaid magazine, a coin receiving chute beneath said slide and laterallyspaced from said magazine, an electromagnetic motor for reciprocatingsaid slide to bring the aperture therein alternately beneath saidmagazine and above said chute, a-plurality of electrical circuits, acontactor normally connecting said circuits in parallel to supplycurrent to said motor, a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and means actuatedby said motor for operating said mechanism to move said contactorsuccessively to open said parallel circuits.

9. In a coin delivery mechanism, the combination of a coin magazine, aslide having a coin re- .ceiving aperture therein and reciprocablebeneath said magazine, a coin receiving chute beneath said slide andlaterally spaced from said magazine, an electromagnetic motor means forreciprocating said slide to bring the aperture therein alternatelybeneath said magazine and above said chute, a plurality of electricalcircuits, a contactor normally connecting said circuits in parallel tosupply current to said motor, a pawl and ratchet.mechanism, meansactuated by said motor for operating said mechanism to move saidcontactor successively to open said parallel circuits, a normally openswitch in each of said parallel circuits, and means to closea selectedone of said switches. g

10. Control mechanism for-a check dispenser having a movable checkejector slideand a plurality of switches, said switches having adifierent signification, said mechanism including a solenoid foroperating said slide; and means for energizing said solenoid adetermined number of times by operation of one of said switches saidmeans including a switching device having a movable and a fixedcontacting member normally in engagement to close a control circuitthrough said selected switch and said solenoid when said switch isclosed,- said movable contact member being arranged to traverse saidfixed member from normal position to energize and de-energize saidsolenoid in accordance with the significance of said operated switch.

11. Control mechanism for a check dispenser having a movable coin orcheck ejector and a plurality of operable switches, said mechanismcomprising: a solenoid having a movable mechanism driven thereby anddriving connections with a said ejector; and means for energizing saidsolenoid a determined number of timesby operation of one oi saidswitches and including a switching device having a movable contactingmember and a fixed contact member normally in circuit closing contacttherewith to close a circuit through a said switch and said solenoidwhen said switch is operated, said movable contacting member beingmovable in steps by said movable mechanism to disengage said fixedcontact member and open the said circuit through the solenoid, and meansincluding alswitching device in circuit with said solenoid and theaforesaid movable and fixed contact members, and operable by saidmovable mechanism for intermittently interrupting the -aforesaid circuitthrough said solenoid so long assaid fixed and movable contact membersare in circuit closing relation.

12. Control apparatus for a coin dispensing mechanism, comprising aplurality of electrical contact pairs, reciprocable members respectivelyassociated with said contact pairs for operating the same, a coinmagazine having associated therewith a member for ejecting coinstherefrom, and means including a solenoid and a commutator in'circuitwith the said contact pairs for causing the ejecting member to operate anumber of times depending upon the contact pair operated by theassociated reciprocable member.

13. A coin dispenser comprising a coin magazine, a reciprocable slideassociated with an end of the magazine to eject coins therefrom, asolenoid having a connection with the slide to actuate the same, acommutator including arcuately ar ranged stationary contact members anda rotatable contacting member engageable'therewith, a spring, and aratchet, a pawl on the slide to engage the ratchet for rotating saidcontacting member one step for a stroke of the slide thereby placingsaid spring under tension, a manually operable means for disengaging thepawl from the ratchet whereby the spring will return said contactingmember to an initial starting position, said contact members andcontacting member being associated in circuits to cause and to stop theoperation of said solenoid after a predetermined number of operations ofsaid slide.

HARRY KOZEL. CLAUDE HUTCHINSON. GEORGE BACA.

